10 Things You May Not Know About Adding Color to your Boring Kitchen

If you go through the rooms in your home and consider which one you spend the most time in, undoubtedly it would be your kitchen. While your bedroom could be considered, most of the time you are sleeping and therefore you can’t take full advantage of its rich ambiance for hours at a time. Your kitchen on the other hand is a space that inspires you to create delicious meals for you and your family and should evoke colorful inspiration. How do you go about choosing colors for your kitchen and which ones will help create a welcoming aesthetic for your guests? Here are 10 things you may not know about adding color to your boring kitchen.

1. Choosing kitchen colors should be an extension of you

Whether you are a seasoned chef or just a novice who wants to improve their culinary skills, there is something inspiring about your kitchen. Not only do you cook and prepare food there but for many homes it’s the hub of family conversation, holiday get-togethers and entertaining guests. What colors excite you? Do you love bright pops of orange, red and yellow? Do you prefer a traditional styling of natural wood grains and neutrals instead? Let your personality guide your selections.

2. Adding color to your kitchen doesn’t have to be permanent

For many homeowners the reality of choosing colors for their kitchen becomes daunting when they think of having to live with the color palette for years into the future. While you certainly want to love the colors you choose remember there are always options to paint, change flooring, countertop and cabinetry hues over the years. Therefore go for what inspires you now and worry about new trends in kitchen color and designs in the future.

3. You don’t have to match your kitchen with the rest of your home

Depending on your floor plan layout, your kitchen colors don’t have to carry the same color scheme as the rest of your home. With that said there should still be continuity in the main theme of colors that run through your home. If you have a southwestern home that is inspired by desert hues of muted colors, it would be wise to keep this theme in your kitchen. Create a mood in your kitchen that is welcoming and not shocking with color when entering and exiting the space.

4. Colored cabinets can be mixed and matched in your kitchen

The days of having all your kitchen cabinets be the exact same color, style, door front, etc… are gone! In today’s modern kitchens you will see an eclectic mix of using 1-3 different colors cabinetry in the kitchen. This is most effective with blocks of cabinets, such as an island and then a wall of cabinets can differ in color. Seek advice of a kitchen design professional for help in choosing colors and cabinetry styles that work well together.

5. The right kitchen color will be enhanced by the right lighting

While you are excited about your rich cobalt blue cabinet color you just chose for your kitchen if the lighting doesn’t cast a gorgeous glow, your kitchen will feel like a dark dungeon. One of the most important factors of choosing great colors is to find multiple sources of lighting to enhance the kitchen – not just for aesthetics but also for ambiance variety and safety of cooking. Consider choosing recessed ambient lights, pendant lighting, and under cabinet lighting for countertop luminance as well.

6. A neutral color palette doesn’t have to be boring

There is often a misconception that neutral colors such as tans, browns, grays, and off-white colors in the kitchen can appear sterile, safe, and unwelcoming. On the contrary – neutral colors paired up with rich wood floors, metallic kitchen backsplashes and eye-catching lighting fixtures can change your mind. Similarly an all-white kitchen design can have the same appeal when paired with rich finishes.

7. Natural wood colors can create drama too

When choosing colors for your drab kitchen, remember color doesn’t have to be a paint color chosen from your local paint store. Natural wood and wood stains can offer gorgeous color variations in your kitchen and tend to be timeless in their appeal. From natural wood flooring, butcher block countertops to a variety of wood stains – try looking into natural wood stains as a way to bring organic color into your kitchen.

8. You can add color subtly with kitchen accent tile

While you may love color it doesn’t mean you’re your entire kitchen has to be transformed from floor to ceiling with it. Subtle accent color in the form of backsplashes, tile surrounds at your wall ovens or even flooring can bring in just enough color to create a statement. Look to eye-catching colors in greens, blue, reds and yellow glass tile for reflectance or use metallic tile for an eye-catching pop to your kitchen.

9. Add whimsical colors to your drab kitchen

If you have an eclectic personality then adding color with primary colors could be the answer to your kitchen drabness. Bar stools, tiles, textiles, and kitchen counter decor can be great ways to add pops of color in fun and whimsical ways. After all, if you can’t have fun in the kitchen – what’s the sense of cooking?!

10. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box

We all get caught up in what designer kitchen has this rule and what interior design magazine shows this trend, but it’s perfectly fine to go outside of the box. If your growing family loves to write on the walls – why not use colorful chalkboard paint on your refrigerator front door or on an adjacent wall in a cool and decorative way? When using color in your kitchen it’s all up to you to bring inspiration and creativity to the most beloved room in the house!